The Department of Corrections seems unlikely to exercise its right to increase prisoner numbers at the Otago Corrections Facility in Milburn, from next July.
A key condition of its resource consent to operate the facility is to accommodate up to 335 prisoners plus another 20% contingency (67), if needed while it has permission to raise the total number to 600 after July 2009.
But a department statement yesterday appeared to pour cold water on the prospects of more prisoners being housed at the facility in the foreseeable future. Assistant southern regional manager Ants Howie said no decisions had been made on increasing capacity at the Milburn site.
Because no decisions have been made, no planning has started for any extra facilities, even though the site has room for expansion.
"The department remains confident we have enough capacity to accommodate the region's forecast prison population," Mr Howie said.
Last Monday, 285 prisoners were accommodated at the facility, and there was ample capacity nationwide.
